COMMITTEE ON ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONSIDERS REPORT OF CHILE

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has considered the combined fifteenth to eighteenth periodic report of Chile on its implementation of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Presenting the report, Paula Quintana, Minister of Planning of Chile, said that starting in 1990, Chile had begun a process of rebuilding the democratic system on the basis of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, highlighting their indivisibility, universality and interdependence. Since 1990, Chile had also begun the long and arduous path to the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and making reparations. Today, owing to the work of the National Indigenous Development Corporation, progress had been made in restoring land to indigenous communities, as well as in the areas of health and social and educational programmes. For the first time, Chileans understood that they lived in a country of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and that those differences had to be respected and protected by all. The Government was committed to assisting all those people who identified themselves as indigenous – more than 1 million people, equivalent to 6.6 per cent of the total population of Chile.

In preliminary concluding observations, Alexei Avtonomov, the Committee Expert serving as country Rapporteur for the report of Chile, acknowledged the progress made against poverty and absolute poverty within the communities of indigenous people, as well as the reduction of the gap in socio-economic conditions between the general population and indigenous people. The links between poverty and racial discrimination were obvious. Combating structural racial discrimination was important in order to eliminate discrimination. Among the significant achievements he had noted were the fact that Chile had recognized the rights of communities of African-descent and the ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 169.

Other Committee Experts raised questions and asked for further information on subjects pertaining to, among other things, the plan to save certain indigenous groups which had been threatened with extinction; reports that the Anti-Terrorist Law was being used to deal with acts by indigenous persons, in particular a case involving acts of arson by Aymaras; the procedures for dealing with requests for ancestral lands to be recognized; whether the Mapuche received education and health care in their own language; what the situation of Chileans of African descent was; legal protections for sacred sites of the indigenous; and details on the procedure for obtaining recognition of rights and registration of indigenous lands, in particular what evidence was required.

At the end of the meeting, the Chairperson of the Committee, Fatimata-Binta Victoire Dah, underscored the pioneering role that Chile had played during the Durban Review Conference towards the recognition of people of Afro-descent. She also invited Chile to forward the idea for a United Nations Decade for the Rights of People of Afro-descent to the United Nations General Assembly.

The delegation of Chile also included members of the Chilean Mission to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Foreign Ministry, the Human Rights Directorate, the Ministry of Interior, the General Secretariat of the Government, the General Secretariat of the Presidency, and the National Directorate of the Carabineros.

The Committee will present its written observations and recommendations on the combined fifteenth to eighteenth periodic report of Chile, which were presented in one document, at the end of its session, which concludes on Friday 28 August 2009.

When the Committee reconvenes in public at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 18 August 2009, it is scheduled to take up the combined fifteenth to twentieth periodic report of the Philippines (CERD/C/PHL/20). The review of the combined tenth to fifteenth periodic report of Chad (CERD/C/TCD/15), which was scheduled to be considered on Monday, 17 August 2009, has been postponed to Thursday, 20 August at 3 p.m.

Report of Chile

Chile has a special duty to combat the racism which has historically been inflicted on indigenous peoples, says the combined fifteenth to eighteenth periodic report of Chile (CERD/C/CHL/18). During the period from 1996 to 2000 the new institutional framework for indigenous peoples became fully operational, beginning the process to return lands through the National Indigenous Development Corporation, the setting up of the first indigenous development areas, the introduction of the programme of grants for indigenous students, the establishment of an Advisory Commission on Development of Indigenous Peoples and the inauguration of Communal Dialogues involving representatives from indigenous communities and associations. The assessment of what has been done shows significant progress in implementing public policies intended to protect and return lands and water, promote development of production and reaffirm culture and education. In 2006, the first task in indigenous affairs carried out by President Bachelet was to convene the National Debate of Chilean Indigenous Peoples, which was officially opened on 23 June 2006 and lasted nine months. On the basis of the recommendations made as a result of this process, the Government reaffirmed its intention to increase the involvement of indigenous peoples, and to further entrench their rights, especially in education and culture, policy for urban indigenous communities, and equal opportunities for indigenous women. The indigenous affairs policy of President Bachelet’s Government is firmly based on the provisions of Convention No. 169 of the International Labour Organization concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, and seeks to introduce recognition of indigenous peoples into the Constitution.

The other situation that falls within the scope of international conventions against racism has been taking shape with the influx of a significant number of migrants, mainly from Latin American countries. Both Government and civil society are convinced that progress must be made in drawing up a cross-sector State policy that streamlines criteria and acts as a focal point for the various institutional bodies. On the policy side, a migration policy committee has produced a document summarizing the views of various Government bodies on migration. The document was forwarded for analysis and debate to various civil society stakeholders, who contributed their own views; it is currently awaiting Presidential approval before being formally adopted. In addition, systems for dealing with the public have been modernized and are being consolidated, reducing response times for users of migration services. Information technology is being used as a new means of communication between the public sector and users of migration services by offering remote assistance through a website.

Presentation of Report

PAULA QUINTANA, Minister of Planning of Chile, said that Chile's report, which covered the period 2000 to 2007, was the product of a wide process of consultation with different sectors and institutions charged with implementing the commitments set out in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Starting in 1990, Chile had begun a process of rebuilding the democratic system on the basis of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, highlighting their indivisibility, universality and interdependence. Chile based its democracy on the principles of the inherent dignity and equality of all human beings, with the goal of promoting and encouraging universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all without distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference for reasons of race, gender, language or religion. Non-discrimination was fundamental for achieving that goal. That was why Chile was working to raise the awareness of the society to the importance of that principle. Chile was therefore in the process of cultural transformation in the long term.

Since 1990, Chile had begun the long and arduous path to the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and making reparations. Today, owing to the work of the National Indigenous Development Corporation, charged with coordinating and implementing public policies towards indigenous peoples, progress had been made in restoring land to indigenous communities, as well as in the areas of health and social and educational programmes. For the first time, Chileans understood that they lived in a country of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and that those differences had to be respected and protected by all.

The reality of that change in policy had been demonstrated by Chile's recent adoption of ILO Convention No. 169, which would enter into force on 15 September 2009, following a long period of parliamentary debate, Ms. Quintana highlighted. That had signalled a change in Chile's policy from providing assistance to indigenous peoples to one of recognizing their rights.

President Micheline Bachelet had defined one of the main challenges as the construction of a system of government that generated the conditions to allow for a Social Pact for Multiculturalism. The Government was committed to assisting all those people who identified themselves as indigenous – more than 1 million people, equivalent to 6.6 per cent of the total population of Chile and including peoples from the Aymara, Colla, Diaguita, Kawaskar, Likan Antay, Mapuche, Quechua, Rapa Nui and Yagan communities. To do that, in April 2008 the President, through a plan of action called "A Social Pact for Multiculturalism", set the main priority areas policy on indigenous peoples for the next few years. At the heart of indigenous policy was a focus on indigenous participation, providing more opportunities for them to be involved in decision-making, in particular in decisions on public policy.

Ms. Quintana underscored that a number of the goals regarding the indigenous had been achieved, including consultations and dialogues with indigenous people; the adoption of ILO Convention No. 169; the approval by the Senate of the plan to have constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples; the establishment of a marine coastal zone for indigenous peoples and its recognition; the incorporation of the concept of interculturality in the General Law on Education; the approval of the constitutional reform establishing Easter Island as a special administrative area; increases in scholarships and housing subsidies for indigenous students; a rural infrastructure programme to provide better roads for indigenous communities; improvement in health care and the building of intercultural kindergartens in the main cities; and housing subsidies to indigenous peoples.

To provide cross-sectoral treatment of the indigenous issue, the Government had set up a Ministerial Council for Indigenous Affairs, Ms. Quintana noted, and indigenous units had been set up in all relevant government bodies. A number of consultations with indigenous communities on the constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples had also recently been undertaken, and soon the Government would be launching a consultation on the procedure for consultation processes, as set out in the ILO Convention – sort of consultation on consultations.

Another issue of relevance to the Committee facing Chile was the situation of a new wave of immigration, characterized primarily by regional immigration by women from the region seeking improved living conditions. Chile recognized the contribution those people were making to Chilean civil society, as reflected in policies to regularize the situation of migrants.

There were 317,057 immigrants in Chile, of whom only an estimated 7,300 were in an irregular situation, Ms. Quintana said. In 2000, Chile had made progress in integrating immigrants as subjects of law, rather than as just beneficiaries. Chile had ratified the Palermo Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, supplementing the International Convention against Organized Transnational Crime. Those instruments had allowed Chile to modernize its legislation on migratory and trafficking matters. A further bill on refugees and a white paper on migration law were in the pipeline.

Responsible authorities had taken a number of measures to integrate migrants in Chile, focusing on the most vulnerable. There were initiatives to help pregnant migrants, to assist access to health care by all migrants, independent of their migratory status, and to regularize the situation of all migrant children in educational establishments, allowing all immigrant and refugee children to access education, Ms. Quintana added.

Ms. Quintana also highlighted that, internationally, Chile had played an important role in eliminating racial discrimination. Chile, as part of the Latin American and Caribbean Group, had played a major role in the Durban Review Conference earlier this year, and had hosted a regional preparatory meeting for that conference. Moreover, in 2007, Chile had contributed to the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Of course, much remained to be done, and there were still areas in which immigrants faced discrimination, Ms. Quintana acknowledged. For the indigenous, there also remained some centres of conflict, though minor. Just yesterday, a painful event took place in which a member of the Mapuche community died. However, it was important to stress that the Chilean Government rejected violence as a means of settling disputes and sought to resolve conflicts through dialogue and consultation.

CARLOS SANHUEZA, a Counsellor with the Permanent Mission of Chile to the United Nations Office at Geneva, continuing with the presentation on legislative issues, noted that the provisions of the Convention had all been incorporated in domestic law. The status of the Convention was higher than domestic law, but below the Constitution. On 18 July, a law had been promulgated against crimes against humanity, including genocide, and made racist motivation an aggravating factor. Regarding education, the Law on Education specifically provided for the promotion of knowledge about the culture and history of original peoples, prohibited discrimination in access to education, and provided penalties and fines for acts of discrimination. Moreover, in 2005 a bill had been put forward to widen the scope of acts and behaviours which could be penalized as discriminatory. That bill was far advanced in consideration at the parliamentary level.

ALVARO MARIFIL, National Director of the National Indigenous Development Corporation of Peru, providing complementary information, noted the legislation in place to implement the provisions of ILO Convention No. 169, in particular the obligation to undertake consultations with indigenous communities in areas that affected them. Regarding the second set of consultations on constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples, in August they had carried out consultations on the consultation process, with a view of agreeing with indigenous peoples on how to carry out those procedures. There would be a third indigenous consultation, and it would look at best practices so as to improve on previous experiences.

ALVARO DURAN, Legal Adviser in the Ministry of Planification, speaking on the issue of land policy, noted that since the enactment of the Indigenous Law in 1993, the right of indigenous peoples to recover their rights to land and water had been recognized. From 1994 to 2009, 657,520 hectares had been recovered, benefiting a total of 613 communities. Individual subsidies had also been provided. The process of acquiring land titles took a long time, but the plan established for 2008-2010 set up clear goals and targets. The goal for 2009 was to have 45 more communities achieve land acquisitions. Regarding individual requests for 2008 to 2010, there had been an increase of 98 communities and there was an increase of 200 communities for the following biennium.

Regarding water rights, the National Water Department and the National Indigenous Development Corporation had been ordered to establish plans for the granting of water rights back to the Aymara and other indigenous communities, Mr. Duran said.

REGINALDO FLORES, of the Department for Foreigners and Migration of the Ministry of the Interior, addressing migration issues, observed that, in 2008, they had promulgated a new national migratory policy with citizen participation. A number of consultations had been undertaken with civil society to promote integration of migrants, including a human rights action plan for migrants. Moreover, reforms to migration legislation before Parliament would ensure that migrants' visas would not automatically become invalid upon the expiration of their labour contracts.

Oral Questions Raised by the Rapporteur and Experts

ALEXEI S. AVTONOMOV, the Committee Expert serving as country Rapporteur for the report of Chile, observing that the report said that racial discrimination was not intentional at the government level, noted that racial discrimination in Latin America had deep roots – both pre and post independence. Some groups – indigenous groups and Afro-descendants in some other countries – suffered on socio-economic grounds because of structural discrimination. For that reason, he was particularly interested in socio-economic studies undertaken on the situation of these groups.

Mr. Avtonomov highlighted that contradictory reports had been received from the Government of Chile and from civil society on the situation of indigenous peoples. For example, in the report it said that the Lafkenche (part of the Mapuche) had received recognition of their rights to their coastal ancestral areas. However, according to non-governmental organization reports, since the law on recognition of the indigenous coastal areas entered into force in 2005, much time had been spent in developing regulations to implement that legislation, which had only come into force in 2008. Moreover, during that time, apparently new fisheries legislation had been implemented which had gone a long way towards annulling the rights granted. In that connection, he wondered what priority laws on the rights of indigenous peoples had in cases of conflict of laws?

Mr. Avtonomov said he had been happy to hear about the plan to save certain indigenous groups which had been threatened with extinction, as well as the information that new indigenous communities had been set up. However, he had heard the Aymara population was decreasing. In just 10 years, from 1996 to 2006, the Aymara had gone from representing 40 per cent of the indigenous population in Chile to representing just 7 per cent. Meanwhile, the populations of other indigenous communities had grown. What was the explanation for that decrease?

Another concern was reports that the Anti-Terrorist Law was being used to deal with acts by indigenous persons, in particular a case involving acts of arson by Aymara. Criminal procedure under that law differed from regular criminal proceedings in terms of pre-trial detention limits, access to lawyers and others. The Human Rights Committee had requested the Chilean Government to draw up clearer criteria for the application of that law, so as to ensure that only those suspected of actual terrorist acts were prosecuted under it. Had that been done, Mr. Avtonomov asked?

Mr. Avtonomov also drew attention to the need to speed up the procedures for dealing with requests for ancestral lands to be recognized. In the meantime, many sacred sites were at risk of being lost forever.

Another area in which contradictory information had been received from non-governmental organizations was regarding the parliamentary consultations on constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples, in particular that certain indigenous groups had been left out and that they did not support the bill, and Mr. Avtonomov asked for more information.

Other Committee Experts raised questions and asked for further information on subjects pertaining to, among other things, difficulties in pushing the new reforms mentioned in the presentation through Parliament; the legal status of the outcome of consultations with indigenous persons; whether the Mapuche received education and health care in their own language; what was meant by the term "moral minority" in the report; whether there were situations of internal displacement in Chile; what the situation of Chileans of African descent was; legal protections for sacred sites of the indigenous; concerns about the privatization of education; details on the procedure for obtaining recognition of rights and registration of indigenous lands, in particular what evidence was required; and a request for statistics on criminal prosecutions of indigenous persons and the crimes they had been prosecuted for.

An Expert noted that, despite the progress made by recent Governments in returning land to the indigenous peoples, it did not seem to have resolved the issue. People seemed to be very angry still. The Committee had heard reports that forestry and agribusiness activities continued to threaten the land, and that protests by indigenous peoples were dealt with by prosecuting protestors under the Draconian Anti-Terrorism law. In that connection, an Expert wondered why immigrants arrested in the context of protests were not prosecuted under the Anti-Terrorism Law, while indigenous persons were. He had also heard about cases where indigenous persons were brought before military courts. An Expert was particularly puzzled by the conflict between the statements in the report, which categorically denied that the Government punished or worked against the indigenous movement and accepted that the claims of the indigenous were valid, and prosecutions by the Government of indigenous persons under the Anti-Terrorism Law, and clashes with government agents, including the death of a young Mapuche man yesterday, which the Minister had mentioned.

Another Expert underscored the need to set up a Chilean independent national human rights institution based on the Paris Principles. Chile should also adopt robust legislation to prevent racial discrimination. It was not sufficient to improve the material conditions of the indigenous people, but the State should also consider the indigenous people’s need for recognition. Was there any member of the indigenous community among the delegation?

On immigration and refugees, one Expert noted that Chile had not yet domesticated the Refugee Convention. This resulted in the fact that refugees were treated as simple immigrants and were thus denied some of the specific rights allotted to refugees. As Chile’s neighbouring countries saw some situations of violence and displacement, there surely were a number of refugees from the region in Chile. Should the country not domesticate the Refugee Convention and it Protocol? Was Chile also planning to ratify the Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness?

Response by Delegation to Oral Questions

Addressing concerns expressed and questions raised, the delegation said that the Government of Chile had drafted a plan of action which carried the need to recognize and acknowledge the State’s historic debt towards the indigenous population. The Government had worked on several avenues, amongst which were the recognition, development and institutionalization of the rights of indigenous people. Today there were very favourable conditions to soon adopt the recognition of indigenous people in Chile’s Constitution. A second avenue included social programmes, especially in inter-cultural health and education. One central aspect to the claims of the indigenous people was the country’s land policy. Two indigenous people were included in the delegation.

On the Constitutional recognition of indigenous people, the delegation said that this April, Congress had adopted the idea of a constitutional reform to recognize indigenous people. The proposal was a big step forward; it brought on board several issues, such as the recognition of the multi cultural aspect of Chile’s society and the recognition of their customs as long as they did no run counter to Chile’s Constitution and laws, among others. National consultations had been opened this April to get the indigenous associations’ opinion on the draft. Some 121 workshops had taken place with traditional leaders and indigenous organizations.

Other consultations had also taken place with indigenous people on regional representation, on the establishment of a national council of indigenous people and also in connection with Chile’s adoption of International Labour Organization Convention 169.

Concerning land policy, the delegation said that it was needed to rebuild trust between the State and the indigenous people. It was the duty of society and the State to respect, protect and promote the development of indigenous people and their culture by adopting adequate measures and to protect their land and the ecological equilibrium thereof. There was a fund available to indigenous people and communities for the acquisition of land. As to the current mechanism for solving land problems with indigenous people, they could ask the National Indigenous Development Corporation for the settlement of any land issues.

On inter-cultural relations, the delegation said that the policy for inter-cultural health dated back to 1992 and was implemented through the presence of bi–lingual information officers and inter-cultural health technicians in the health centres of regions where indigenous people were living. Upgrading of indigenous practises with western technology had also taken place. Health officials had been trained on the rights of indigenous people.

The Government had conducted seven studies which described the socio-demographic situation of the country and these showed a gap in health between indigenous and non-indigenous people. Amongst the priority action of the country was a system for child social welfare which was present throughout all districts of the country. This system took care of all pregnant women and calendars for gestation were given to women.

The Constitution of Chile also set forth the right to free education to all inhabitants and was in compliance with international treaties signed by Chile, the delegation said. It was the duty of the State to guarantee access to education at all levels and it had to finance education free of charge to provide access to it to all of the population without distinction. Chile’s education system included private and public systems, which could be freely chosen by the parents. Education in Chile was secular and pluralist and promoted social inclusion and equity.

On the anti-terrorist act, the delegation said that it did not only apply to a single social group. On the competence of the military justice system, the trend was to limit its competence in trials of civilians. Through several laws adopted in the last few years terrorist acts were excluded from military jurisdiction if these crimes had been committed by civilians. The Government had also established new modalities to proceed further in decreasing the competency of military justice to exclusively deal with military personnel who had gravely infringed the most important duties they had to carry out. It would also ensure the guarantee of impartiality and independence of these courts. A new draft bill, which was currently before the defence committee of the senate would limit military justice to only cover military crimes committed by military personnel.

With regard to people of African descent, the delegation indicated that in Chile there were some 3,000 Afro-descendants. A process of self-recognition was ongoing. There were also a significant number of people of African descent who were immigrants. A draft bill currently being discussed also recognized the existence of an ethnic group of Afro-descendants and the rights of this community.

The delegation also gave some results of the social economic survey of indigenous people, which was carried out every year. Between 2000 and 2006 the Aymara population had increased from 60,000 to 82,000 people and the Mapuche from 576,000 to 925,000. The poverty gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people had decreased from 10 per cent in 1996 to 4.9 per cent in 2006.

The delegation indicated that there was one draft bill that had been presented to the national congress in 2005 whose objective was to establish a national human rights institution, in the framework of the Paris Principles. This July, after many efforts by the Government, the lower chamber had given its approval to the draft bill. This adoption was achieved on the basis of an agreement whereby the Government had agreed to send to Congress additional proposals to improve the draft bill to clarify, among other aspects, the capacity of the institution with regards to international treaties; its powers to present its informal report to the United Nations, the Organization of American States and other institutions; and a clarification on the fact that the institution would be legitimized to proceed with criminal and other legal actions before legal courts with regards to crimes of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The delegation said that the country was presidentialist in its nature, which explained the several long delays in the adoption of draft bills, as these needed the approval of both lower chambers.

Another proposed draft bill sought to establish as a constitutional body the Ombudsman, which would be tasked with the protection and promotion of human rights, the delegation said.

With regard to the situation of the Aymara people living on the border with Chile and Peru, the delegation said that the maritime limit of both countries had been set up in treaties and conventions signed by both countries. The Government of Peru had however presented a claim on the maritime limit to The Hague Court.

On refugees, there was legislation underway on immigration and refugees. But the delegation said that a significant group of Colombians and other people of the continent as well as a group of Palestinians had been received by the country. This had been done in close cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Also, the conventions on statelessness people were currently before congress.

Further Oral Questions Posed by Experts

ALEXEI AVTONOMOV, the Committee Expert serving as Rapporteur for the report of Chile, asked for clarifications with regard to the hierarchy of international treaties dealing with human rights. On the link between indigenous people and the environment, he noted that they often lived in a stable eco-system. Many of them lived in rural areas. Projects and mega-projects for hydro-electric and thermo-electric works could have an impact on their lives. Could the delegation give any comments on consultations held with indigenous people?

Other Experts noted the fact that anti-terrorist legislation was not exclusively being applied to indigenous populations. The bill recognizing the people of African-descent was encouraging. What rank did the International Labour Organization Convention 169 have in the country’s legislation? How much of the money received from the Inter-American Development Bank would be given to indigenous communities. Was Mapuche language taught in schools? Were indigenous health practices also practiced among non-indigenous people?

On the military courts vs. civilian courts, one Expert was troubled by the assumption that military courts were incapable of administering fair justice. What was important was the fairness of the process and the training of the judges, not the frame in which the proceedings were happening. Concerning the long delays in the adoption of bills, was there not any alternative way of breaking the impasses, asked another Expert?


Replies by the Delegation

Responding to those questions and others, the delegation said, on the issue of military justice, that this was one of the main pending issues in the modernization of Chile’s justice system. After the reform, military courts would only be competent to deal with military personnel accused of military crimes.

On environmental legislation, all investment projects were subject to a declaration on the environmental impact of the project. Major projects were also subjected to impact assessment studies. These included an analysis of the social characteristics of the population living in the area of the project. The projects were then looked at by regional and national environmental committees. Those potentially affected by the project could also file appeals.

With regard to intercultural health, it would be the best to all society to link the ancestral and modern medical practices. But the ancestral health practices needed the legitimization of the official medical system. This was an ongoing process.

In conclusion, the delegation stressed the commitment of Chile’s Government to protect all human rights and its dedication and commitment to the task of eliminating all forms of discrimination. The delegation would seriously address the remaining challenges to continue to make progress in the elimination of all forms of discrimination and to strengthen the country’s democracy.

Preliminary Concluding Observations

In preliminary concluding observations, ALEXEI AVTONOMOV, the Committee Expert serving as Rapporteur for the report of Chile, said that his conclusions were personal and not those of the Committee. He acknowledged the progress made against poverty and absolute poverty within the communities of indigenous people, as well as the reduction of the gap in socio-economic conditions between the general population and indigenous people. The links between poverty and racial discrimination were obvious. Combating structural racial discrimination was important in order to eliminate discrimination.

All of Chile’s new legislation dealing with aspects of racial discrimination was important, said Mr. Avtonomov. Among the significant achievements he noted were the fact that Chile had recognized the rights of communities of African-descent and the ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 169.

The legislation in force and the one in process of adoption was very important. The Committee would draw up its concluding observations discussing the whole. Of course there were issues and problems and his hope was that all of the Committee’s recommendations would be useful to the country and would support democracy in Chile and would represent new achievements in combating racial discrimination. The Committee wished to adapt its recommendations to the reality of the country, said Mr. Avtonomov.


For use of the information media; not an official record

CERD09023E